Air flow deflector attachment and system

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, this disclosure is related to an air flow deflector comprising a base having a front portion, back portion, two side portions, a deflector portion, and an opening. The two sides of the base can each have an aperture configured to couple the base to an air vent or register. The opening of the base can define at least a portion of an air outlet. Extending upwardly from the back end of the base and outwardly away from the rear surface of the back end of the base is a single wall forming a deflector portion. The deflector portion is configured to have no side supports to allow for flexing when an external force is applied to the single wall. The deflector portion is also capable of retaining its original shape upon removal of the external force.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This U.S. Patent Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application: 62/220,533 filed Sep. 18, 2015, the disclosure of which is considered part of the disclosure of this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to air flow deflectors, and more particularly relates to air flow deflectors to be attached to air registers located on the floor, wall, or ceiling of an area.

BACKGROUND

In the heating and air conditioning industry, many styles and locations of air registers are used in forced-air heating and cooling systems for buildings of many types. In many instances, it is desirable that the air flowing from an outlet into a room be directed in some specific direction. While this can be accomplished with permanently installed louvres in the registers themselves, the result of such construction is excessive expense and complexity. Also, the possibility of providing substantial changes in direction of the air issuing from such registers is limited because the louvres do not extend out of the vent to better control the flow of the air.

Because of variable load conditions or the arrangement of furniture and draperies and other accessories in a room, it may be desirable to deflect air issuing from an outlet in an upward, downward, or sideways direction. It is also desirable to keep window draperies and other room features from covering air outlets and returns, limiting their efficacy. While permanent installations can be obtained for achieving some of the aforementioned results, it must be recognized that room features change often, e.g., furniture is relocated, in residences particularly, and the length and type of window draperies is also changed from time to time. This frequently necessitates redirection of the air flow from the register, which cannot be readily achieved by existing equipment. Air deflectors may also be used in high traffic areas that involve moving furniture or other equipment within the proximity of the air vent. Many of the current air deflectors are easily broken or destroyed when they accidentally abruptly contacted by an external force in these high traffic areas.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide an air deflector which can be easily and quickly installed on and subsequently easily and quickly removed from a variety of conventional air registers. Additionally, there is a need for an air flow deflector that has structural rigidity and integrity that will not become dislodged or cracked when in operation and from the movement of furniture or traffic in proximity of the air register.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, this disclosure is related to an air flow deflector comprising a base having a front portion, back portion, two side portions, a deflector portion, and an opening. The two sides of the base can each have an aperture configured to couple the base to an air vent or register. The opening of the base can define at least a portion of an air outlet. Extending upwardly from the back end of the base and outwardly away from the rear surface of the back end of the base is a single wall forming a deflector portion. The deflector portion is configured to have no side supports to allow for flexing when an external force is applied to the single wall. The deflector portion is also capable of retaining its original shape upon removal of the external force.

In another aspect, this disclosure is related to an air flow deflector system comprising, an air vent having a face structure through which a flow air passes and an air flow deflector. The air flow deflector has a base portion with a back edge, and a deflector portion. In some embodiments, the base further includes side portions, and/or a front edge. The air flow deflector can be removeably coupled to the air vent. The base portion of the air deflector can have an opening that defines a face structure of an air vent or register. The deflector portion of the air deflector can extend from the back edge of the base portion and arch upwardly. The deflector portion can extend at least a portion of the opening to aid in directing the air flow from the air vent. The deflector portion does not use supports or shoulders extending from the sides of the base. By not having side supports, the deflector portion is adapted flex under external pressure and retain its contour and configuration when the external pressure/force is removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will be more apparent and better understood by reference to the following descriptions of the disclosed system and process, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an aerial view of an exemplary embodiment air flow deflector attachment in its unfolded state;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an air flow deflector attachment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an air flow deflector attachment;

FIG. 4 is an aerial view of another exemplary embodiment of an air flow deflector attachment in its unfolded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 1-3 an air deflector is provided, that can be made of any metal or polymer, such as galvanized steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, or aluminum. The air deflector can also be made of a variety of polymers that are rigid, while at the same time flexible under an external force. The air flow deflector is adapted to be installed on existing air registers, vents, or air diffusers of a building or other structure. The existing vent can be located anywhere in the structure, including but not limited to the walls, ceiling, or floor of the structure.

The air deflector can be constructed from a single piece of material. In one exemplary embodiment, the air deflector can be pre-formed (such as, e.g., by stamping) out of a single piece of material. Subsequent forming and finishing steps may be used, such as hot or cold forming via bending and manipulating the initially formed article into the desired final shape. By constructing the air deflector from a single piece of material, the cost of production is significantly reduced and provides greater rigidity and uniformity of the air deflector.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, the air deflector can be formed using any known and suitable metal forming technique, such as being stamped out of a piece of metal. The stamping process can remove an opening portion of the material to form the base portion of the deflector and the deflector portion can form an arch shape bending the single wall down a line running parallel to the back edge of the vent to form an arch shape and creating the deflector portion of the air flow deflector. The base can have a predetermined opening size and shape that approximates the shape of an existing air register or vent's opening. This opening in the base forms a basic rim that surrounds the air vent or register. The base of the air flow deflector can have a front, back and side portions. Extending from the back portion of the air flow deflector is a deflector portion. The deflector portion can be formed in a half arch shape away from the back portion of the base towards the front portion of the base. The deflector portion extends over at least a portion of the opening, and in some embodiments can extend past the front portion of the base. One alternative formation technique includes three dimensional printing with a 3-D printer system of the air deflector.

The base of the air flow deflector can have a small aperture of each side portion of the base that is configured to align with the existing fastener holes of the air vent or register. The same fasteners used to couple the vent or register to the duct can then be used to affix the air flow deflector to the vent or register. Rigidly coupling the air flow deflector with the air vent allows the air flow deflector to remain attached to the vent or register during impact, such as in situations where a person or object might bump the air flow deflector.

The deflector may have a surface treatment applied, e.g., pre-painted in a variety of colors or can have a pre-applied primer that allows a user to customize the color of the air flow deflector to match or compliment the surrounding environment of the air flow deflector. Similarly, the deflector can be left in its raw state of the material from which it is manufactured. In another embodiment, the deflector can be manufactured using a polymer, such as a transparent polymer.

As shown in FIG. 4, another exemplary embodiment of the base portion can approximate a portion of the air vent or register, for example just the back half of the air vent can be approximated by the base, giving the base a general “U” shape. The base can have two side portions formed parallel to each other with a back portion connecting the two parallel side portions. A deflector portion can extend from the back portion of the base and continue to or past where the parallel portions end. The base can be coupled to an air register or vent by any means.

One embodiment of the present invention can use any suitable fastener to attach the base to an air vent or register. The parallel portions can each have an aperture that aligns with apertures located on an air vent or register. The apertures of the parallel portions can be aligned with the air vent/register apertures and coupled together using new or pre-existing fasteners.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an air flow deflector system can comprise an air vent having a face structure through which a flow air passes. Removeably coupled to the air vent can be an air flow deflector having a base portion with a back edge, and a deflector portion. Additionally, the base potion can further comprise a front edge and at least one side edge. In one exemplary embodiment, the base can have a front edge, a back edge and a first and second side edge, wherein said edges approximate the perimeter of an air vent face. A base portion can have an opening defining the face structure of the air vent. The deflector portion can extend from said back edge of said base portion, arching upward and extending over the opening. Additionally, the deflector portion is adapted to retain its contour and configuration under an external force.

While some embodiments of the invention have been illustrated above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to details of the illustrated embodiments, but may be embodied with various changes, modifications or improvements, which may occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air flow deflector comprising: a base having a back portion, at least one side portion, and an opening, wherein said opening defines at least a portion of an air outlet; a deflector portion comprising a single wall extending upward from the back portion of the base and outwardly away from the back portion of the base, wherein said deflector portion is configured to have no side supports.
 2. The air flow deflector of claim 1, wherein said base is configured to be coupled to a standard sized air register.
 3. The air flow deflector of claim 1, wherein the base has a two parallel side portions, wherein said back portion extends between said parallel side portions.
 4. The air flow deflector of claim 3, wherein said base further comprises a front portion and is connected to the back portion by said side portions, wherein the back portion, front portion, and side portions define an opening.
 5. The air flow deflector of claim 3, further comprising apertures on each side portion configured to accept a fastener.
 6. The air flow deflector of claim 1, wherein said deflector portion is a half arch shape and extends away from the back portion of the base, wherein the deflector portion extends over at least a portion of the opening.
 7. An air flow deflector system comprising: an air vent having a face structure through which a flow air passes; and an air flow deflector having a base with a back edge, and a deflector portion, wherein said air flow deflector is removeably coupled to said air vent; wherein said base has an opening defining said face structure of said air vent; wherein said deflector portion extends from said back portion of said base portion, arching upward and extending over said opening; and wherein said deflector portion is adapted to retain its contour and configuration under an external force.
 8. The air flow deflector system of claim 7, wherein said air flow deflector is configured to be coupled to said air vent.
 9. The air flow deflector system of claim 7, wherein said air flow deflector further comprises a front edge connected to the back edge by at least one side edge.
 10. The air flow deflector system of claim 7, wherein said deflector portion is a half arch shape and extends away from the back portion of the base, wherein the deflector portion extends over at least a portion of the opening.
 11. The air flow deflector system of claim 7, wherein said deflector portion is configured to allow for flexing when an external force is applied to the single wall.
 12. A method for producing an air deflector adapted to be attached to an air vent register and deflect air flowing out of the register, comprising: providing a material; forming a first iteration of the air deflector from said material by forming the first iteration from the material, said first iteration having: a deflector portion, a base having a back portion, at least one side portion, and an opening, wherein said opening defines at least a portion of an air outlet; and forming a second iteration of the air deflector from said first iteration wherein a half arch shape is formed extending away from the back portion of the base and the deflector portion extends over at least a portion of the opening.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first iteration further comprises a front portion.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said material is metal.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said forming of the first iteration is done by stamping out the first iteration from a piece of material.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said forming of the second iteration by partially folding the deflector portion along an axis between said back portion and deflector portion.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising of applying a paint primer on the air deflector.
 18. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming at least one aperture on a side portion configured to accept a fastener.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein said deflector portion is adapted to retain its contour and configuration under an external force. 